Well tester



March 9, 1943.

RF. SHELBY WELL TESTER Filed July 19; 1940 PETER .2 $HEL8 WELL ras'rnn Peter P. Shelby,- Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Application Jul 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,416 Claims. (Cl. 73-51) My invention relates to apparatus for use in has been completed certain conditions arise in the well that affect the quantity or quality of the oil produced. That is, it may be that in certain zones the pressure inside the Well is greater than the surrounding sands in which case a portion of the oil in the casing is dispersed in the sands. It frequently happens also that water enters a well at some undetermined region thereby lowering the quality of the oil produced. When such condition exists the pressure at the point of entrance into the casing is greater than that in the open casing. This is true whether oil, water or gas is entering the well at that point. It is an object of my invention to locate the places in the well where these different conditions exist by lowering into the well an instrument capable of giving a sensible indication of pressures encountered which may be freely raised and lowered in the well casing throughout its length.

It is an object of this invention to provide a,

simple and eflicient means of testing a well by measuring the pressure at diflerent zones in the well. This is done by lowering into the well a device by means of which portions of the well on the inside of the casing are blocked oil or isolated. The device is so arranged that the pressure in such blocked off or isolated areas is either transmitted to the top of the well, where means are provided for giving sensible indications of the pressure in such blocked ofl areas. or is recorded on a pressure meter near the device itself.

The principle of my invention resides in the ing showing a device embodying: a form of the apparatus of this invention; I Fig. 2 is azview of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the cups in collapsed position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional F .1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatiosectional elevation showing the pressure gauge and its connections;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a device embodyins a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on line 6-.-6 of Fig.5; and i v Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the electrical meansusedfor determining irregularities in the shape of the casing,

The formof device shown in Figs. lito 4-inclusiveis particularly designed for use in wells where the casing may have become deformed by pressure or injured duringthe drilling operations so that the casing has not retained-itsoriginal"- cylindrical form; To meet t'he'conditions under such circumstances the apparatus is' provided with a series 01- cups indicated at [0, there being an upper series or set of cum. enerally indicatedv substantial part of inner surface'of the casing obtainment and comparison of the pressures existent in different parts of the well and the use of such data to determine the rate of production of the well, the specific gravity of the fluid in the casing for. a given region, the places of entrance of fluid into thecasing, the places of possible loss of fluid from the casing, the relative pressures of various formations and the nature of the fluids entering the well.

It is a particular object of this invention to proindicated at 13, within any certain zone, is engaged by the cups of the two series. 7 is provided at its edge with a rubber cushion l4 for engagement with the inner face of the casing. By means of a pin i5 each cupis pivotallymounted on an arm l6, pivotally.connectedfatitsinner end by means of a pin II to ears or lugs 18 mounted or built upon a sleeve or cup member l9. As shown in Fig. 2 the cups areoin what may be termed collapsed position. In this position the arms I6 rest against lugs .2 I formed onlthesleeve I9. 24 is a hollowrod or supporting member upon which the sleeve l9 is freeiy 'slidable This rod 24 extends upwardly through the sleeve and may be connected at its upper end to a cable, not shown, or to the hose hereinafter referred to, by means of whlch the'. apparatus-. mayI-be lowered into and raised from the well. The lower end of the rod 24 is threa'dedinto or otherwise secured to a hollow member 25 in, which are arranged coils 26 which are connected through wires 21 to the surface of theground. Upon energization of the coils 26 the member 25 becomes a magnet whichgacts upon an armature on the lower end of the sleeve l9. ThesleevelS is normally yieldably held in its upper position by a spring 3| with the armature 30 spaced above plan view on line S-J of Each cup at II in Fig.4. ii g The function of the apparatus, above described, is to form an isolated or blocked off areaon the inside of the perforated casing so that the pres-.

in Fig. 2. Welded or otherwise mounted on the rod 24 are lugsor ears 32 which proiect outwardly through slots 33 formed in the sleeve I S thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the rod, but'preventing relativerota- 'ti'onoithese parts. Attached to eachear I2 is a chain, orsimilarflexible tension member, the other endof the chain being attached to a cup as indicated at; V v Whenfthemagnet is energized and the armaturell is influenced bythe magnet to move downwardlyfrom the broken line position, shown in Fig. 1, to the full line position, such; downward 2,313,176 .the magnet 25 as shownin broken lines in 11. v 1 When the sleeve is in the elevated position the cups are in the inward or collapsed position shown larly should there be no diflerence in pressure within the cups and-in the open casing, such conditionwould indicate the perforations at'that point were plugged or some condition exists that means loss of; efliciency.

Thevalue of theinfor-mation obtainable by my device will be readily appreciated when it is unmovement-o1 the sleeve carries the cups 'downwardly as shownin Rig. 2, and byreason'of the chains 31 being attaeheditothe cups," the cups are c .caused to isw-ingoutwardly from the position. 'shownin'Fig; -2 togthe position s'howndn' Fig. l-,

1 wherethey are-forcedfagainst the inner wall of theemsing. Adenerg'ization of the magnet her I mits the sleeve to move upwardly under the action of's'pririgfl, one end of which is-secured in any suitable manner tothe upper end'of the. sleeve derstood that by moving the device throughout the length of the entire casing a complete log can be obtained by means of whichstepslmay be accurately taken. to remedy the undesirable conditions as may be found.

If desiredthe form of device shown in Figs. 1 to 3. may be provided with means for approximately determining the cross sectional dimensions'of the casing. This isaccomplished by mcunting a rheostat coil 45 on the lower end of the hollow rod 24, one end of this coil being con-, nected to the coil 2 of" the magnet as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. The other end of the magnet coil is'connected through one of the wires 21 to any suitable instrument indicated at 16', and theend of the other wire 2115 connected and the otherend is securedto a'clamp' It -at-.

' tached to the rod it. Each cupi connected by means ofabranch hose I to-a mainh'ose' any desired, point where it is provided with any which extends to the surface of the ground or to suitable pressure indicating'instrument, as shown sure in such area can be determined,

When the device, shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is lowered into the well the cups are inwhat may be termed collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 2, font of engagement with the well casing. When in this position the various pressures encountered to the contact 41 mounted on the sleeve l9 movable over the rheostat coil 4'. By means of this arrangement,. the amount of current passing through the 'rhe'ostat 'willbe indicated on the lnstrument .46 and as such current will vary directa the casing may be readily determined.

are indicated at the top of the well or on other indicating means by reason of the fact that at such times the tubes are in open communication with the fluid in the casing. Consequently, when the device arrives at the liquid level of the 'well I the change of pressure indicated would disclose such fact. If after a known internal of time the liquid level-is again determined in the above manner and is found, to be at a different int electric, energy and switch means may be employed.

than at the previous determination, the ques ion of whether the well is producing or losing fluid 1 can be determined. Knowing the: interval of time elapsed between such determinations, the rate of production or loss may be calculated.

lywith thedi stance betwen' the flange 30 and magnet 25 which is determined by the amount of movement of-the cups, the inner diameter of While I have shown and described the blocked 011. area in the casing as having a hose connection and pressure 'indicatingmeans associated therewith it is to b understood that other means may be associated with the blocked oil area in either form of the invention disclosed for registering or indicating the pressures existing in such areas.

While I have not shown electrical apparatus for supplying electric energy to the magnet 25- itis to be understood that anycommon source of I claim as my invention:

1. In a-weli testerz a rod adapted to be suspended in the well casing; a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod; is seriesof arms pivotally connected to'said sleeve; a cup pivotally mounted on the outer end of each of said arms, the rim of each cup having a contour to conform to the interiorsurface of a well casing and carrying means tomake a fluid tight seal with the casing;

3 With the device sun in' the collapsed position;

the average specific gravity of the liquid in given portions or the well can be determined. from pressure data obtained. When the cupsare against the casing should the pressure in the cups be more than the pressure in the open casing it would'indicate that fluid is entering the well at thatpoint The nature of suchfluid can be de-" termined by reducing the pressure in the tubes thereby permitting thefluid within the cup to enter the tubes which, upon removal of the appayieldable means connecting each cup to said rod; means for yieldingly holding said sleeve in an elevated position; means for moving said sleeve ownwardly to take up the slack in said yieldable means and move said cups into engagement with the inner face of said casing; and fluid pressure conduits communicating with the interior of the cups for transmitting the pressures inside the ';'cups to a measuring device.

ratus from the well, can be examined for determining the character of the fluid d On theother hand, shouldthe pressure within the cups'be less than the pressure in the open casing, such low pressure would indicate that at. that point in the well a portion at least-of the well fluid is passing through the casing into the formation withconsequent lossof fluid. -Simi- 2. In-a well tester, a supporting rod for. suspension in a well casing; a sleeve slidably mounted on the rod; apluralityof spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to the sleeve; a cup pivotally connected at the opposite end of each arm, the rim of each cup having a contour to conform to the interior surface of a well casing and carrying means to make a fluid tight seal with the casing; a yieldable link connecting each cup with thesupp'orting rod at a point spaced above the cup carrying arms; a coil spring connected to the upper end of the sleeve and to the rod to hold the sleeve suspended on the rod; an electromagnet supported by the rod adjacent the lower end of the sleeve. a coperating armature member supported by the lower end of the sleeve, and means for energizing the electromagnet to attract its armature forsliding the sleeve on the rod against the tension of the spring, whereby the cup carrying arms are spread apart to seal the cups against the side of the casing; and fluid pressure conduits communica'tng with the interior of the cups for transmitting the pressures inside the cups to a measuring device.

3. In a well tester, a supporting member for suspension in a well casing; a supported member slidably mounted on the supporting member; a plurality of spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to one of said members; a cup pivotally connected at the opposite end of each arm, the

'rim of each cup having a contour to conform to the interior surface of a well casing and carrying means to make a fluid tight seal with the casing; a yieldable link connecting each cup with the other of said members; means for yieldably holding said supporting and supported members in a given position with said arms and cups ad-- jacent thereto; means associated with said supporting and supported members for causing relative longitudinal movement thereof against the force of said yieldable means, whereby the, cup carrying arms are spread apart to seal the cups against the side of the casing; and means for iving a sensible indication of the pressures inside the cups including fluid pressure conduits communicating with the interior of each cup and extending to a measuring device.

4. In a well tester, a supporting member for suspension in a well casing; a supported member slidably mounted on the supporting member: a plurality of spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to one of' said members; a cup pivotall connected at the opposite end of each arm, the rim of each cup having a contour to conform to the interior surface of a well casing and carrying means to make a fluid tight seal with the casing: a yieldable link connecting each cup with the other of said members; means for yieldably holding said members in a given positon with said arms and cups adjacent thereto; an electromagnet on one of said members spaced adjacent an end of the other member and when energized being adapted to attract an armature member. supported by the lower end of said other member, for causing relative movement between the members against the force of said yieldable holding means, whereby the cup carrying arms are spread apart to seal the cups against the side of the casing; and fluid pressure conduits communicating with the interior of the cups for transmitting the pressures inside the cups to a measuring device.

5. In a well tester, a supporting member for suspension in a well casing; a cup supporting structure mounted on said member and movable to an outer and an inner position; aplurality of cups mounted-on said cup supporting structure, the rim of each cup having a contour to conform to the interior surface of a well casing and carrying means to make a fluid tight seal with the casing; means cooperatively associated with said cup supporting structure and said supporting member for moving said cups to an outer position to seal the cups against the side of the casing; and fluid pressure conduits communicating with the interior ofthe cups for transmitting the pressure inside the cups to a measuring device.

PE'I'ER P. SHELBY. 

